Electric snap switch



April 23, 1935. A. w. KRIEGER 17,993,952

' ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH Filed June 15, 1933 isneets-sneet 1 i 23, 1935- A. w. KRIEGER 1,998,962

- ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH I Filed June 15 1933 2 SheeiZS-Sheet 2 no like.

Patented Apr. 23, 1935 l I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH Alvin W. Krieger, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application June 15, 1933, Serial No. 675,949

15 Claims. (Cl. 200-67) This invention relates to improvements in elec- Fig. is a vertical sectional view, on the broken tric snap switches. line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing parts arranged to An object of the invention is to improve the provide a switch of the three-point or multipleconstruction and arrangement of the parts of circuit-controlling type.

5 switches of the aforementioned character. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of certain of the switch- Another object is to provide a novel form of parts shownin Fig. 5,--the lower insulating cover combined contact and terminal members for the plate being partly broken away to illustrate cerswitch. tain of the combined contact and terminal mem- Another object is to provide a. novel form of bers, and one manner of attaching the circuit w molded insulating supporting base cooperable wires. with the terminal elements to provide for bot- Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a base tom, end or concealed wiring oi the switch. with a special form of terminal elements to pro- Another object is to eifect a novel arrangevide for end wiringof the switch. ment of parts to provide a switch of the three- 'Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the point type. contact and wiring terminal assemblies shown in 15 Another object is to provide novel forms of Fi 7. supporting means to adapt the switch for flush Fig. 9 is a sectional view, on the line 89 of mounting in an outlet box of standard size, or Fig. 7. for concealed mounting in a tool handle or the Fi 10 is a Vertical Sectional View Of a Switch having combined contact and terminal mem- Another object is to provide novel means 'for bers like those illustrated in Figs- 8 d u insulating and reinforcing the end wiring terhaving 8- lelatively long bu hing and a. sp minals of the switch. form of actuating means.

Another object is to provide improved forms of Fig. 11 is a view, partly in vertical Section and actuating elements for the switch. partly in side elevation, showing a modified form Ether objects and advantages of the invention of op ra lever. together with a Special "Lil hereinafter appear. rangement of sheet metal parts for supporting the The accompanying drawings illustrate certain same. embodiments of the invention which will now be Fig. 12 is a persp w. in s p a reledescribed, it being understood that the embodition, of certain of the sheet metal-parts shown 30 ments illustrated are susceptible of modification in Fig. 11. in certain details thereof without departing from g. 13 is a w Similar to but Showing the scope of the appended claims. a modified form of operating lever, and a top The switches illustrated are in general of the plate to provide for flush mounting the switch character disclosed in my Patent No. 1,905,914,- in an outlet box of usual form. 35 to which reference may be had for a more de- Fig. 14 s a t p p a w Of fragments of the tailed description of certain features thereof top plate shown in Fig. 13. which are common to the present devices. Fig. 15 is a view, partly in vertical section and In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view partly in side elevation, of another form of relaof the molded insulating base of an electric snap tively long bushing and the operating lever as- 40 switch embodying my invention,-the one-piece sociated therewith. combined contact and wiring terminal elements Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the bushing shown being shown in assembled position with respect in Fig. 15. thereto. Fig. 17 shows a modified form of connector or 5 Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, on the broken bus for use in a three-point switch of the charline 22 of Fig. 1,but showing all of the switch acter illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. parts in assembled relation. Fig. 18 is a. detail perspective view of a lever Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a onein general like that shown in Fig. 11, but with a piece combined'contact andwiring terminal memmodified form of operating knob or handle, and

so her constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 19 is a detail perspective view of the oper- 5 Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of ating lever shown in Fig. 13.

molded insulating base adapted to provide a Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral switch of the single-pole, double-throw type, or 25 designates a base molded from a suitable ina switch of the three-point type as illustrated in sulating material. I prefer to employ material Figs. 5 and 6. of the phenol-formaldehyde condensation type,

such as that sold under the trade name of bakelite. Base 25 is provided with a relatively large substantially rectangular recess 26 and a pair of relatively smaller substantially rectangular recesses 2? and 28,all of said recesses opening to the upper surface 25 of said base. Recesses 2i and 28 have portions of different depths whereby horizontal shoulders 2'1 and 28 are provided,the relatively deeper portions of said recesses 21 and 28 having bottom walls located closely adjacent to the bottom surface 25 of base 25, whereby relatively thin insulating diaphragms are'formed integrally with the base (as best illustrated at 28 in Fig. 10). These diaphragms may be readily removed by breaching to accommodate bottom wiring terminal elements of the one-piece combined contact and wiring terminal members 29 and 38 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Said. members 29 and 30 may be formed righthand and left-hand from blanks of identical form. Left-hand member 30 comprises a substantially fiat terminal portion. 30, having an opening 36 formed therein to facilitate attachment of a circuit wire, an elongated boss or bead 36 being formed on said terminal portion to provide for a relatively close fit, thereof within the opening formed by broaching as aforedescribed. Formed integrally with portion 30* are a pair of lug 30 and 3!] which are bent into approximate parallelism with respect to each other, thus providing a section of channel form which is adapted for a snug fit within recess 28. The lower horizontal edges of lugs 36 30 are adapted to seat against the shoulder 28 (Fig. l) to insure proper positioning of element 33* within said recess 28. Formed integrally with element 30 and offset downwardly from the upper end of the latter is a connecting portion 3B the contact element 39 being formed integrally with said connecting portion 30 and depending from the latter in a plane substantially parallel to element 30 The enlarged lower end 30 of element 3E! is bent or flared outwardly toiacilitate engagement thereof by the movable contactor of the switch.

Recess 28 communicates with recess 26, as by means of notch 28 ,the latter providing clearance for the connecting portion 30 aforementioned. Member 29 is formed as shown from a blank identical with that employed for member 30. The lower ends of the contact elements are spaced upwardly from the bottom wall of recess 26 (as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2) ,said ends being biased toward each other, but the same are normally held in spaced relationship as by means of a pair of vertical shoulders 26 26 Ribs 3|, 32 are provided in the opposed walls of recess 26,-the upper ends of said ribs being provided with open bearings 31, 32 to accommodate the integral pivot lugs of a substantially U- shaped flat punched sheet metal contactor 33, one of the lugs being shown at 33 in Fig. 5. Said contactor may be of the form illustrated more in detail in my Patent No. 1,905,914 aforementioned. Also as shown in said patent the switch assembly comprises a flat punched plate 34 of insulating material,-said plate having openings-to accommodate the rivets (one of which is shown'at' 35), and a relatively narrow straightsided slot 34 to act as a guide and provide clearance for the insulating pin or actuating element 36. A punched and stamped sheet metal top plate 31 is adapted to overlie and clampingly engage the insulating plate 34 when the rivets 35 are upset over the former.

Top-plate 37 is provided with-a boss 31 (Fig. 2) having a substantially circular opening formed therein to accommodate the reduced lower end 38 of an externally threaded hollow metal bushing 3B,said lower end 38 being upset over the lower face of plate 31 to secure said parts against relative longitudinal movement. As shown in Fig. 2, bushing 38 is provided in one side thereof with a key-way or vertical slot 38 the pr mary purpose of which is to insure proper positioning of the usual on and ofi indicating disk or plate (not shown) to be associated with the switch. I utilize the slot 38'" for the additional purpose of receiving a lug 39 (Fig. 2) formed integrally with plate 3?, whereby the bushing and plate are positively secured against relative rotation.

' The actuating lever 59 or the switch is preferably provided with an integral knob M which may be inserted upwardly through the opening defined by the inwardly extending flange 38 at the upper end of the bushing. The enlarged portion 40 of said lever is adapted to substantially close said opening to prevent entrance of dust and other foreign matter. and the walls of bushing 38 are provided with alined openings to accommodate the pivot pin 4| whereby said lever is mounted for pivotal movement in a single plane. Bushing 38 is adapted to be provided with the usual nut or nuts (not shown) whereby the same may be clamped to a perforated panel, plate or similar support.

As shown in Fig-2, the insulating plate 3 3 is adapted to clampingly engage the upper ends of the terminal portions of members 29, 30 to rigidly secure the latter in assembled relation to base 25. Interposed between the lower end of insulating pin 36 and contactor 33 is a coiled compression spring 36 ,a stamped sheet metal member 36 being fitted onto the upper end of said spring,--said member having a concavity. in its upper end to provide a proper abutment for said pin. Spring 36 acts to efiect snap movements of contactor 33 to opposite extreme positions upon corresponding movements of the actuating lever 49.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 I have shown a molded insulating base 52 of substantially the same width but of greater length than that shown in Figs. 1 and 2,-said base having an intermediate substantially rectangular recess 43 and relatively smaller rectangular recesses 44, G5, 46 and 41 at the four corners thereof, respectively. Recesses 44 and 45 are adapted toreceive with a press fit the terminal portions of right-hand combined contact and terminal members 48 of identical form, and recesses 45 and 41 are adapted to receive the left-hand combined contact and terminal members 49. Recess 43 is provided at opposite sides thereof with vertical ribs 42 42 the upper ends of which ribs are respectively provided with open bearings 42. 42 Members 48 an 49 are like the members 29 and 30 aforedescribed, except that the terminal portions 48, 49 of the former are of a length to fit entirely within their respective recesses, as shown in Fig. 5. Circuit wires may be attached, as by brazing, spot-welding or soldering, to each of the four terminal elements, to provide a multiple-circuit-controlling switch.

In Figs. 5 and 6, however, I have shown means for providing a multiple-circuit-controlllng switch of the three-point type. Said means may comprise a conducting bus or strip metal member 50 having a flat portion 50 to be superimposed Said portion 48 upon, a punched plate 5| of insulating material,said member having downwardly bent ends 50 adapted to penetrate spaced openings 5|; 51 in said plate whereby the same will electrically'connect the contact portions of one longitudinally alined pair of members 48, 49.. A second insulating plate 52 is employed to retain member 50 in proper position and to insulate the latter from top plate 31. Lead-wires53, 54 and 55 may be attached to three of the terminal elements, as best illustrated in Fig. 6; this form of concealed wiring being efiected prior to assembly of the switch parts. Plates 5| and 52 are provided with registering slots to provide clearance for pin 36,-one of said slots being shown at -5l in Fig. 6. The other parts of the switch are identical with the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and have been given like characters of reference.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modification to provide for end wiring of the switch. Thus the members 48 and 49 have attached to the terminal portions thereof, as by spot-welding, brazing or soldering (soldering thereof being illustrated), a pair of right-hand and left-hand punched and stamped sheet metal members 56 and 5'l,-the form thereof being best illustrated in Fig. 8. Members 56 and 5'! are provided with tapped openings 56 5! to accommodate the shanks of wiring terminal screws 58,-said members having flanges 56 51 surrounding said openings. members 56, 51 is an insulating member 59 -of cylindrical form, said member 59 having alined recesses 59*, 59 formed in opposite ends thereof to provide clearance for the shanks of screws 58 and to receive the flanges 56 57 to. provide for support of said member by the latter. As will be noted, the inner ends of recesses 59*, 59 are spaced from each other as by means of 2. diaphragm 59 formed integrally with the member 59. When the switch parts are completely assembled the member 59 acts not only to properly insulate the screws 58 from each other, but also as a reinforcing strut for the members 56 and 51 jointly. By this arrangement the screw heads may be drawn tightly into clamping engagement with the circuit wires (not shown) without danger of bending or distorting the terminal members.

In the switch of Fig. 10 the base 25 is of the character shown in Figs. 1 and 2,the parts in Fig. 16 being drawn to a scale about two and oneflfth times actual size of the article. End wiring terminals of the character shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are employed. Parts of the character heretofore described have been given like characters of reference. In Fig. 10, however, I have shown an externally threaded hollow metal bushing 60 of relatively great length-such length being desirable when the switch is to be mounted upon a relatively thick panel or similar support. Said bushing is provided at its lower end with the reduced portion or flange 60 which is upset over the lower face of top plate 31,- the vertical slot 60 being adapted to receive lug 39 for the purpose heretofore stated. An actuating lever 6| is pivotally supported at the upper .end of bushing 60, as by means of pivot pin 4|.

Interposed between providetl with a recess to accommodate the pin 36,-the latter being adapted to cooperate with the other parts of the switch in the manner aforedescribed. As will be apparent, upon movement of lever 6| to the left the same will act through like manner, the upper end of member 62 is limited to movement in such a plane by reason of the connection between the same and lever 6|, which has a fixed pivot.

In Fig. 11 I have shown a modified form of ac tuating lever, 63, and novel supporting means therefor,the parts illustrated being adaptable for use with any of the insulating base members shown herein. Thus, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 I provide a metal member having a flat portion 64 provided with openings 64*, 64 to receive the shanks of rivets 35 which may be upset thereover (Fig. .11) to clamp the insulating plate or plates (not shown) in position,--member 64 in this respect being equivalent to the top plate 3? aforedescribed. Member 64 is provided with intermediate upstanding parallel arms and 66 between which the flat punched sheet metal actuating lever 63 is positioned,said arms and said lever having registering openings to freely receive the pivot pin 61. A punched and stamped sheet metal top plate 68 is provided with an opening 68 to provide assembling clearance for the knob or trigger portion 63 of lever 63,-and communication with opening 68 are alined notches 68'", 68 the sidewalls of which are adapted to straddle lever 63 (see Fig. 11) to prevent sidewise displacement of the latter. Top plate 68 is provided with integral downwardly extending parallel flanges or projections 68, 68 said flanges being adapted to overlap the arms 65, 66 of member 64 and the opposite ends of pin 61 to prevent endwise displacement of the latter. As shown the arms 65, 66 are provided with reduced upper ends 65 66 which extend upwardly into opening 68*- in top plate 68, whereby the latter is adapted to rest upon the horizontal shoulders 65, 65 and 66 66 thus provided on arms 65, 66:

Member 64 is provided at one end with an upwardly angled arm 69 having a vertically extendingportion 69 the end of which is reduced, as at 69', whereby horizontal shoulders 69 69 are provided. Member 64 is provided at its other end with a relatively longer upwardly angled arm 10 having a vertically extending portion HI the end of which is reduced,'as at 70 whereby horizontal shoulders 10 16* are provided. Arm I0 is punched out to provide an opening Hi and a lug 10, the latter being provided with an opening l0 to accommodate the hooked end 11 of a coiled tension spring IL-the other hooked end 1!. of said spring being attached to lever 63' as shown in Fig. 11. Lever 63 is thus biased to one of its extreme positions to effect opening of the switch contacts (not shown).

Top plate 68 is provided with openings 68, 66 to accommodate the reduced ends 10', 69 respectively, aforementioned, whereby said top plate is also adapted to rest upon the horizontal shoulders 10, 10 and 69, 69. Said ends 16?, 69 are then upset or riveted over the upper surface of top plate 68,.as shown in Fig. 11, to rigidly and permanently secure said parts in assembled position. Lever 63 is provided with a projection the lower edge 63 of which is engageable with member 64 and the upper edge 63 of which is engageable with top plate 68, whereby movement of said lever in opposite directions is limited. The knob or trigger portion 63 is preferably stamped from sheet metal to the form shown,the same being spot-welded, brazed, or otherwise rigidly secured to lever 63 in the relation illustrated in Fig. 11. Lever 63 is provided in its lower edge with a rectangular notch 63 to accommodate the upper end of a flat punched insulating plate 72 of substantially T-shape,the ends 12 12 being movable between the inner faces of arms-65, 66 of member 6 2 to prevent sidewise displacement of plate 12 with respect to lever 63. The lower end 12 of plate 72 is rounded to engage a spring abutment, such as the member 36 aforedescribed. Top plate 68 is provided with a plurality of suitably spaced tapped openings 68*, 68 68 and 88 said openings being adapted for utilization in pairs to register with the variously spaced openings provided in tool handles now on the market.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 13, the member 66 is identical with that employed in Fig. 11. However, the top plate "53 of Figs. 13 and 14 is made relatively longer than the top 'plate 68 aforedescribed. Plate T3 is provided with enlarged ends l3, E3 the same having tapped openings 33, 73 to provide for murement of the plate to an outlet box by means of suitable screws (not shown). Plate T3 is also provided with a pair of tapped openings E3 H to cooperate with the screws of a fiushor coverplate of usual form. The openings T3 53 are adapted to receive the ends T8, 59*, and the openings lt is adapted to provide clearance for an insulating actuating lever M, said lever having a lower portion l t of reduced width (see Fig. 19) to fit between the upstanding arms of member 3 (one of which arms is shown at @6). Flanges l3 and 'lS are provided to prevent endwise displacement of pivot pin til. Lever it, is provided at its lower end with a recess to accommodate the insulating pin l5,--whereas obviously if desired said pin 15 or its equivalent might be formed integrally with said lever.

In Figs. 15 and 16 I have shown a modified form of externally threaded hollow metal bushing it having an upper bore l6 and a relatively larger lower bore 53 with a curved shoulder 65 formed therebetween to provide a socket or bearing for the enlarged hemispherical portion 'I! of a relatively long lever ll. Lever H is insertable upwardly through a straight sided slot 16 provided at the upper end of said bushing,--the straight sides of said slot lB acting to limit said lever to oscillatory movement in a single plane. The upper end of lever ll is reduced, as shown at li and said end is adapted to have driven thereonto the recessed ball or knob 11. The lower end portion W of said lever is of inverted frusto conical shape as shown whereby oscillatory movement thereof is limited. Said lower end portion is provided with a recess 'll to receive an insulating pin or abutment member of the character aforedescribed. Bushing 16 is provided at its lower end with the reduced portion or flange 6 for the purpose heretofore stated.

In the fragmentary view of Fig. 1'? the parts 48, 49, and 52 correspond with those parts shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The bus or connector 78, however, has its ends 18 18* bent fiatwise against the lower surface of insulating plate 5! whereby said ends are arranged to be clamped in engagement with the upper horizontal edges of the contact elements or portions of the combined contact and terminal members 48 and 49.

In Fig. 18 I have shown a lever 19 in general similar to that shown at 63 in Fig. 11. Thus lever 19 is provided with an opening I9 for the pivot pin, an opening 79 for the spring end, and a notch IS! to accommodate the insulating plate 12. A projection on lever 19 provides abutments or shoulders 79, 18 to limit oscillatory movement thereof in the manner aforedescribed. The portion 19* of said lever is preferably provided \with a reduced upper end (not shown) onto which the recessed ball or knob 19 is adapted to be driven.

The manner in which the various parts shown herein may be substituted for each other to provide numerous other complete switch combinations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and hence specific showing of the many possible modifications is deemed unnecessary.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a molded insulating base having a relatively large recess opening to the upper surface thereof, said base also having a pair of relatively smaller recesses at one end thereof, said last mentioned recesses being spaced from each other and from said first mentioned recess, but communicating with the latter below the upper surface of said base, each of said second mentioned recesses being initially closed at the lower end thereof by a relatively thin insulating diaphragm formed integrally with said base, whereby the latter may be utilized for a switch adapted for end wiring, and said diaphragms being readily removable by breaching, whereby said recesses may accommodate terminal elements extending downwardly through the base to provide a switch adapted for bottom wiring.

2. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a molded insulating base having a relatively large substantially rectangular recess opening to the upper surface thereof, said base also having a pair of relatively smaller substantially rectangular recesses at-one end thereof, said last mentioned recesses being spaced from each other and from said first mentioned recess, but communicating with the latter below the upper surface'of said base, each of said second mentioned recesses having portions of different depths whereby a shoulder is provided intermediate the length thereof, the bottom wall of each deeper portion being closely adjacent to the outer surface of the bottom wall of said base, whereby a relatively thin but integral insulating diaphragm is initially provided which may be readily removed by broaching, and a pair of one-piece combined contact and terminal members, the contact and terminal portions of which are arranged in substantial parallelism, the contact portions of said members extending downwardly into said first mentioned recess, and the terminal portions thereof extending downwardly into said second mentioned recesses, respectively.

3. In an electric snap switch of the toggle type, in combination, a molded insulating base having a relatively large substantially rectangular recess opening to the upper surface thereof, said base also having a pair of relatively smaller substantially rectangular recesses at one end thereof, saidlast mentioned recesses being spaced from recesses, respectively,

respective corners of said central recess and c Om-' each other and from said first mentioned recess, but communicating with the latter below the upper surface of said base, each of said second men-- tioned recesses having portions of different depths whereby a shoulder is provided intermediate the length thereof, the bottom wall of each deeper portion having an opening formed therein, a pair of one-piece combined contact and terminal members, the contact and terminal portions of which are arranged in substantial parallelism, the contact portions of said members extending downwardly into said first mentioned recess, the terminal portions thereof extending downwardly into said second mentioned recesses, respectively, and said terminal portions having ends extending downwardly through said openings beyond the lower surface of said base, said ends having means to facilitate bottom wiring of the switch.

4. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a molded insulating base having a relativelylarge substantially rectangular recess opening to the upper surface thereof, said base also having a pair of relatively smaller substantially rectangular recesses at one end thereof, said-last mentioned recesses being spaced from each other and from said first mentioned recess, but communicating with the latter below the upper surface of said base, each of said second mentioned recesses having portions of different depths whereby a shoulder is provided intermediate the length thereof, the bottom wall of each deeper portion being closely adjacent to the outer surface of the bottom wall of said base, whereby a relatively thin but integral insulating diaphragm is initially provided which may be readily removed by broaching, and a pair of one-piece combined contact and terminal members, the contact and terminal portions of which are arranged in substantial parallelism, the contact portions of said members extending downwardly into said first mentioned recess, the terminal portions thereof extending downwardly into said second mentioned said terminal portions each having parallel lugs formed integrally therewith and adapted to bear against the respective shoulders aforementioned whereby said contact and terminal portions may be definitely positioned within the respective recesses, and means come prising an insulating plate secured to the upper surface of said base and adapted to clampingly engage the upper ends of said terminal portions to retain said members in assembled position relatively to said base.

5. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a molded insulating base having a relatively large recess opening to the upper surface thereof, said 'base also having at least one pair of substantially smaller rectangular recesses spaced from each other and from said first mentioned recess but communicating with the latter by means of notches opening to said upper surface, and said second mentioned recesses being adapted to accommodate wiring terminal elements to provide for enclosed, bottom, or end wiring of the switch, the bottom walls of said recesses being initially relatively thin to provide for broaching thereof prior to insertion of the bottom wiring terminal elements.

6. In a electric snap switch, in combination, a molded insulating base having a centrally located recess of substantially rectangular contour, opposed walls of said recess having pivot bearings formed therein, a contactor oscillatably supported in said bearings, four relatively smaller substantially rectangular recesses located at the municating with the latter by means of notches opening to the upper surface of said base, four onepiece combined contact and wiring terminal members, the'contact portion of each member extending downwardly into said centralrecess and the terminal portion of each member extending downwardly to a greater degree into one of said relatively smaller recesses, each of said terminal portions having a pair of substantially parallel lugs to provide for a press fit thereof within its respective recess, an insulating plate having clamping engagement with the upper endsof the respective terminal portions, a metal top plate having clamping engagement with said insulating plate, an externally threaded hollow metal bushing secured to said top plate, an operating lever pivotally supported within said bushing, and a coiled compression spring interposed between said lever and said contactor to effect snap movements of the latter from each extreme position thereof to the other.

7. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a. molded insulating base having a centrally located recess of substantially rectangular contour, one pair of opposed walls of said recess having pivot. bearings formed therein, a flat punched sheet metal contactor oscillatably supported directly by said bearings, four relatively smaller substantially rectangular recesses located at the respective corners of said central recess, said base having notches to provide for communication between said central recess and the corner recesses respectively, four one-piece combined contact and terminal members, the contact pordegree into one of said relatively smaller recesses,

an insulating plate overlying the upper surface of said base and adapted for clamping engagement with the upper ends of said terminal portions, said plate having a pair of openings spaced longitudinally thereof, a resilient metal strip having a flat portion adapted to overlie said plate and having bent end portions adapted to penc trate said openings and resiliently engage a longitudinally alined pair of contact portions, whereby a common circuit connection may-be provided for the latter, a second insulating plate overlying said first mentioned plate, and a metal cover member overlying said second plate and secured .to said base to retain all of said parts in assembled relation.

8. In an electric snap switch of the threepoint type, in combination, a molded insulating basehaving a relatively large substantially rectangular recess and relatively smaller, recesses respectively located adjacent to the four comers of the latter, all of said recesses opening to the pair, a strip metal bus member, the end portions of the latter being adapted to resiliently engage the edge portions of the pair of contact'elements associated with said last mentioned pair of terminal elements, and a pair of insulating plates with which said bus member is engaged for support thereby, said plates being adapted to over-- lie the upper ends of said terminal elements and being secured to said base to retain all of said parts in assembled position.

9. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a molded insulating base, a pair of stationary switch contacts carried thereby, a pair of punched sheet metal terminal elements'electrically connected with the respective contacts and extending in parallel relation to each other from one end of said base, said elements having tapped openings formed therein adjacent to the outer ends thereof, said elements also having flanges formed upon the adjacent faces thereof around the respective openings, an insulating member of substantially cylindrical form, said member having alined recesses formed in opposite ends thereof to accommodate said. fianges, whereby said member is retained in position upon assembly of said terminal elements with respect to said base, and a pair of wiring terminal screws having threaded engagement with said openings, the shanks of said screws being accommodated by the respective recesses.

10. In an electric switch, the combination with a pair of punched sheet metal terminal members, said members having tapped openings formed therein with flanges surrounding said openings, of a molded insulating member of substantially cylindrical form, said insulating member having alined recesses formed in opposite ends thereof whereby an integral insulating diaphragm is provided therebetween, said flanges being engageable with the walls of said recesses whereby said insulating memmr is supported upon attachment of said terminal members to a suitable support in parallel relationship to each other, and a pair of wiring terminal screws the shanks of which have threaded engagement with said openings and are accommodated by the respective recesses, said insulating member serving to properly separate the shanks of said screws and also as a reinforcing strut for said terminal members jointly.

11. As an article of manufacture, a one-piece combined contact and terminal member for electric snap switches, the terminal portion of said member being substantially flat and having a pair of lugs formed integrally therewith intermediate the ends thereof, said lugs being bent into substantial parallelism to provide a portion of channel-shape in cross section, the contact portion of said member being of substantially inverted L-shape and having the short end thereof extending laterally from a side edge of said ter- .minal portion at a point below the upper end of the latter, and the long end of said contact portion extending downwardly in a plane substantially parallel to said terminal portion, said portion of channel-shape being adapted to provide for a wedge fit thereof within a vertically recessed insulating base and being also adapted to facilitate electrical connection of a terminal wire with respect thereto.

12. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a relatively long externally threaded hollow metal bushing, said bushing having an annular inwardly extending flange at the upper end thereof, a lever having an integral actuating knob insertable upwardly through the opening defined by said flange, said lever having a spherical portion adapted to substantially close the upper end of said bushing, said bushing and said lever havlever, an insulating pin projecting downwardly from the lower end of said second lever, and an insulating plate having a relatively narrow straight-sided slot through which said insulating pin is adapted to extend, the walls of said slot acting to limit said pin and said second lever to oscillatory movement in a single plane.

13. In an electric snap switch, in combination, an externally threaded hollow metal bushing, said bushing having an external straight-sided slot extending lengthwise thereof, said bushing also having a lower end portion of reduced diameter, a metal top plate having an opening of substantially circular contour adapted to accommodate said lower end portion, said top plate having a lug formed integrally therewith and extending upwardly and inwardly from the wall of said opening, said lug being engageable with the walls of said slot to prevent rotation of said bushing and said top plate relatively to each other, and said lower end portion of said bushing being upset over the lower face of said top plate whereby said parts are rigidly secured against relative longitudinal movement.

1a. In an electric snap switch of the toggle type, in combination, a molded insulating base having a relatively large substantially rectangular recess opening to the upper surface thereof, said base also having a pair of relatively smaller substantially rectangular recesses located between said first mentioned recess and one end of said base, said second mentioned recesses each having alined. notches whereby the same respectively communicate with said first mentioned recess and said end wall of the base, whereby said base is adapted for use to alternatively provide a switch of the end-wiring or concealed-wiring type, said second mentioned recesses having openings in the bottom walls thereof respectively, whereby said base is also adapted for use to provide a switch of the bottom-wiring type, a plurality of different types of combined contact and terminal members alternatively removably insertable into said first mentioned and second mentioned recesses, an insulating cover plate secured to the upper surface of said base and adapted to retain said combined contact and terminal members in assembled relation to said base, and oscillatable contact means located within said first mentioned recess and movable with a snap action into and out of engagement with the contact portions of said combined contact and terminal members.

15. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a molded insulating base having a relatively large substantially rectangular recess opening to the upper surface thereof, said base also having a pair of relatively smaller substantially rectangular recesses located between said first mentioned recess and one end of said base, said second mentioned recesses each having alined notches whereby the same respectively communicate with said first mentioned recess and said end wall of the base, whereby said base is adapted for use to alternatively provide a switch of the end-wiring or concealed-wiring type, said second mentioned recesses having openings in the bottom walls thereof respectively, whereby said base is also adapted for use to provide a switch of the bottom-wiring type, said first mentioned recess having alined pivot bearings formed in the opposed walls thereof and opening to the upper surface of said base, a fiat punched sheet metal contactor pivotally 

